When you get to the electrical stage you will have to make a lot of 1" holes through 2 x 4s so get something with power and with 2 batteries so when one dies, it will, you can just swap'em out and keep going. Try the Stanley FatMax 10 pound Sledge Hammer on for size! Jason, I only see the 12" miter on your site! Thanks again for making the site. The average cost to frame a basement is $1 per square foot for the materials and $2.70 to $3.39 per square foot installed with drywall and ready for painting. Save Money, Get more Space, Learn Something New and Fun. Also, does your home insurance go up as well? I prefer the models with the “sliding-hiding” blade for safety reasons. Sweet, Thanks Spencer - that's awesome! $31.99 $ 31. I was wondering the same thing, did the math on a few test measurements and yes. You can cut straight through your framing lumber or cut any angle from -0- to -45- degrees for the trickier framing techniques I talk about in the Basement Framing Video Series. There are several size knives that you should purchase they are the 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″. Jason, you may have covered it somewhere in your web site, however, It might be worth mentioning on your "Basement Renovation Tools - Chalk line" page; It's crucial to have two colors of chalk. Basement Brands offers high quality products for professionals and homeowners alike. I use mine on every single wall I build, even a short 3′ or 4′ wall is getting a chalk line from my chalk box. Used mostly to cut different size lumber and plywood in a straight line, this tool will be getting used a lot during your basement project. A framing nailer is used to do heavy duty tasks such as building a deck, work on construction sites, finishing a basement, framing a shed or garage, or working on roofs. I can’t stand an unorganized messy job-site, so I’m use my Shop Vac daily to “suck” saw dust, drywall dust, and other job debris up off of my job-site floor! Super insulated for extra protection this a tool you'll use all over the house. I have both, but use the corded one 90% of the time. Either way, what do you recommend for brad or finishing nailer? Used to “saw” through the drywall to cut-out outlet boxes, switch boxes, access opening, etc in the drywall. Sorry, don't mean to be one of "those guys". I have 2 trim guns that I use extensively they are my 16 Gauge trim gun and my 18 Gauge brad nail gun. "What tools do I need?" Your site is a life saver, keep up the great work. Your email address will not be published. But all that manly stuff aside, this is one of the coolest, funnest, most functional tools to operate. I use the Stanley 15-106A Cope Saw. Paslode 51300 F325R Lightweight Framing Gun. If you do choose to purchase through the Amazon Store I want to say that I appreciate your support. A jab saw is one of those tools that is so incredibly indispensable for one job—cutting drywall—but practically worthless for other tasks. Also, a thinner screw will reduce the splitting. When the frame is completed, it will be raised and nailed to the plate. framing a house. Plus, one day I'd like to put in a home theater and I can guarantee I'll take pictures and videos and share the whole thing with you! It has a built in inclinometer so it can snap into the "R 60" rail and double as a digital level. Finally starting! A drywall screw gun is the way to go for a professional installation process. Borrow one if you can. A framing nailer is one of the pricier tools you'll buy but you need it for months so renting is not financial feasible. yo I think your site is awesome. But, if budget is a concern - a good 'ole broom also does the trick. What is the skill level required ? Notice how I didn't bold WoW, which means I'll probably wait a long time before trying it.I'm only cautious about Fallout 3 because I've seen lots of demos (including all the ones at PAX), but the demos never have much substance. This page "Basement Framing Layout Tools" is part of the Basements101.com website. Cost to Frame a Basement. What finish nailer do you recommend? You can also purchase the cheaper disposable “ear buds” that you roll-up and stick directly into your ear-hole…these work good but I can’t stand the way they feel in my ears! Man, that does seem like a lot of tools, now that I've written them all down. - Jason. Dewalt 12″ 15 amp, Duel bevel, sliding compound Miter Saw Model #: DWS779, Dewalt 10″ 15 Amp Single Compound Miter Saw Model #: DW713, Dewalt 15-amp 10″ Table saw model #: DWE745. You know what, good question. I don’t know, I just can’t get enough of these things! Cheers - Jason. They'll simply nail both ends of the studs horizontally into the joists. You can acquire them as you actually need them down on the basement finishing job site. Drills that plug in are a lot more powerful than their cordless counterparts, so they're a necessity for drilling stubborn materials. With Amazon Prime's free shipping (highly recommended) you can get even the heaviest tools delivered straight to your door. This tool is without a doubt the “baddest bitch on the beach”! I started reading your site because I am planning on finishing my basement and have enjoyed your insight. I like the Very affordable Empire Level line Here’s my complete set units: 24″ Empire True Blue Box Level  48″ Empire True Blue Box Level   72″ Empire True Blue Box Level, This square is specifically made for framing and is the large 90 degree square that is 24″ x 16″ in size. Sorry for the ramble. Too cool! I've seen gun powder activated nail guns, masonry drills with nails that go into anchors, even an adhesive was used in one youtube video. Tools and techniques for building basement and partition walls with steel studs. Does anyone have experience with a laser based measuring device? A mud-room is exactly what I need to add. Hi Dan - I used a gun powder activated nail gun. This training will baby-step you through the entire basement framing project using nothing but the “End Nailing” framing techniques. If interested in basement framing training…I do have a 6 hour 4 video basement framing training series. Is this a personal preference thing or should I look for a specific degree nailer? $30 at Harbor Freight or $60 for a Black & Decker and you can make precision cuts in drywall or wood, or use it as a sander. You've said it elsewhere, but buy a tool belt! But, it's not as intimidating as at looks. For finishing your basement you probably won't need to cut any boards wider than 6". Will I be late here? I ended up needing it to trim down some doors and to cut some wainscoting for the bathroom. If you're nervous about buying a tool I suggest going to Home Depot or Lowes a couple of times during the week and just look at them and read the boxes and ask questions. I like the Klein model best…It’s a Home Depot item. How to Build a Wall - Framing a wall on the ground and then lifting it into place seems to makes sense but ultimately it's the slow and hard way to do it for a basement … My husband is planning to start finishing our basement and I'd like to surprise him for Christmas if the laser is worth the extra money compared to the plumb bob. In this video, I show you the method that I use to attach basement framing to a concrete floor! The 20 Tools You Need for Remodeling Remodeling is more than carpentry. Cleaning out the car, blowing leaves (this one has a blower) and sucking up spills. "I hope it isn't like Oblivion, because Oblivion had really broken gameplay and repetitive voice-overs. The trick to drywall is … Adding air to your car tires. A good high-speed electric drill is a must for plumbing projects in the basement. A jab saw is a hand saw with a six-inch blade (depending on the model), sharpened tip, and coarse teeth. There are $10 levels and there are $100 levels, my opinion is that for renovating your basement you want to be in the $30-$40 dollar range for a 4 foot level. Hey Maulin - It's all about confidence and not skill. When I was learning how to finish a basement this was my first question. I use different size length levels for different applications so 1 size does not fit all situations. Forget about the nail apron, 16 penny framing nails and claw hammer your grand father used! Both of these items are used for the sanding of the joint compound. Jason, great tool list! Whether I’m sharpening my carpenter pencil, stripping wires, cutting insulation, etc., it’s a tool I want close by all times…so it has earned a full-time spot in my tool belt. You can cut straight through your framing lumber or cut any angle from -0- to -45- degrees for the trickier framing techniques I talk about in the Basement Framing Video Series. You can also find some good air-gun/compressor “combo bundles” where they bundle the air compressor and the framing gun together for a killer deal. I always go for the “Big Boy Toy” and get the more expensive model (more options and better built). All I have done so far is assembled Ikea furniture sets and mounted picture frames, sometimes slightly tilted. It's been snowing here all winter and the kids are coming in and out with wet shoes and clothes - it would be great to have a spot for them to hang all that up to dry. I did this so you can just purchase the tools you “need next” keeping you from having to purchase all of your basement finishing tools all at one time! I'm not seeing one on your Amazon store. Code and inspectors will tell you that clipped head fasteners are not allowed for certain framing uses in most of not all locations-whereas full head ones( even being offset) are to code as long as they are the correct length. Commonly known as a “chop box” in the business, this tool is used extensively during the framing stage of the project. Coping trim is not hard…but it takes a little practice to get -it-right. Try the Klein Heavy Duty Multi-Bit Screwdriver/Nut Driver. If so, go for it. The nice thing is the basic framing concepts are similar to wood framed construction. The other aspect is tilting the blade with reference to the base in order to chamfer the board at a required angle (eg. I keep all of my  personal tool selections here, and I try to keep the store updated and current showcasing the latest changes in tool versions and their prices. Ask the sales associates  who are trained to understand each tool questions you might have about the tool. Finally, an oscillating tool. Hey Amber - Nail guns can be intimidating, and I do love my impact driver! Even though I use air framing and air trim guns to do the majority of my framing and trim work I still carry my hammer in my belt at all time. Sanding drywall can be tricky and an experienced touch is required. If the light goes off and you hear the audible alert that means there is electricity running through that wire, do not touch it! picture frame clamp corner clamp frame clamps for … Sometimes you need to smack-em-around a little and this tool is so handy to have down on the job! Thanks for using my Amazon link Bree - 'preciate it. Wire Stripper - Double dipped comfort grip. "Sliding" miter saw is what you meant by being able to push back and forward. Used primarily during the drain-line installation phase of a basement bathroom project to “jack-up” the concrete floor for drain-line and sewage ejector installations, this tool don’t mess around! laundry room is currently in entrance way from garage. Having the right tool for each stage of the job is half the battle when finishing your basement. Rigid R9600 X4 Hyper 18 Volt Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2″ Drill Driver and Impact Driver Kit. With a 10" (blade) regular miter saw I could cut a max of a 6" board width. Pro tip: Be sure to use adhesive formulated for use with foam (about $3 per tube) when insulating basement walls. “Sliding” miter saw let's you slide the blade back and forward for extra cutting depth. Home Depot sells Bucket Head for like $25. From what I gather from reading stuff on your site you also live somewhere near Ashburn so I guess if need be I will have you come by and look at my work. Also, are the saws capable of clamping onto a variety of stands, saw horse, etc.? Dual compound is cutting on an angle like a 45 for trim, and/or a chamfer angle for things like crown molding. I use these for a variety of tasks, not just for “punching nails”. It also would have helped with your tiling in the bathroom (floors and walls). Thanks for all your help regardless! 6" wide boards will not cut all the way through with a 10" saw. on you at all times while you're on the ladder. All of the tools that I recommend to you in my Amazon Store are Pro-Grade tools, and should last you for many years of remodeling projects. The Bosch GLM 80 is by far the coolest laser distance measure on the market. I’m using the Ramset .22 Caliber Powder Actuated Single Shot with Silencer! Conventional construction adhesive won’t work for insulating basement walls. My shop vac’s are always running down on my jobs. They usually amount to "oh look at our fancy targeting system. You’ve got a 22 to 25 caliber smoking load slamming a steel piston into a hardened steel pin driving it through the wood framing and then into basement floor concrete and even solid steel basement columns and beams. Quick question - the Irwin quick grip clamps you mention above come in a variety of sizes. Until I completed the basement plugs where scarce, I think I had one. Think of the framing as the skeleton of your basement renovation. You can read all about my experience with one, here. The most used tool for electric projects. Carpenter Pencils have THICK rectangular lead inside them that resists breaking every time you draw a line on a 2″ x 4″ or the concrete floor! A complete set of drywall knives is needed to finish your drywall seams (butt joints & tapered joints), inside corners and outside corners. It's backlit and does all the standard measurement functions like straight distance, square footage and cubic footage. Just load the nails into this gun…press it to the wood…pull the trigger and BLAM it’s nailed into place! We use the Dewalt 6-Amp Drywall Screw Gun. I like the Dewalt 15 amp 10″ blade model, the Dewalt DW713 10-Inch Framing Compound Miter Saw. This is a MUST HAVE tool for Basement Framing in my book. I use mine more often than my 500W halogen work lamp. You’ll also be using it a ton during the mechanical stages (electric, HVAC, and plumbing stages). The price difference for me just wasn't enough to outweigh the benefits of not dealing with the extension cord. Required fields are marked *. No longer must you “smash” your fingers to a pulp in your attempt to hand-nail an entire basement framing project together. We show you how to operate this tool in our basement drain-line installation video (Plumbing Part 1). our basement was partially finished, and we literally only have four walls to put up fresh. Actually, that's also incorrect lol. My son, ready to pitch in on the basement remodeling. PEX is the least expensive, strongest made, SIMPLE plumbing system that any new comer could ever hope for when it comes time to tackle the plumbing phase of your basement project!